December 12, 2016

This week was cool. We taught a couple of people. Our mission has changed a few of the key indicators we report so we can focus more on the people and not so much the number. It’s super weird, but it’s working so far. haha!  It really forces us to put a bigger emphasis on getting members out with us and building ward trust. I guess that is a common problem with a lot of missionary's. I feel like we have pretty good ward trust and friendship! haha We were able to teach some good people this week! One that I’m really happy about is a girl named Samantha! She is super solid! She had a problem earlier about Nephi killing Laban, but we worked through it after like an hour-long lesson. haha So it all worked out! haha So that was really cool! We’re hoping to see her at church this coming week! But we will see! haha Otherwise we see the same less actives, nothing really new so I’m sorry these are so short but I can literally tell you all that's going on when I get home. haha But I love you all! And I miss you so much! 

Love,

Elder Johnsen

I happened to come across this picture on another missionaries blog!  I love seeing Michael, so happy, in this pic.  Not sure when it was taken or which area he was in, but that's ok.  It's fun to see his smiling face!

December 5, 2016

This week has been good, we have been doing some good things. Nothing too crazy. We found some new people, but some of them have already dropped us, so that stinks. But oh well. Otherwise we went about our day doing our thing. haha  It’s freezing cold over here. That sucks and were biking, so yeah I hate that. haha But the ward is really great! I love them so much! I’m excited to spend my last Christmas here and then head on back to Arizona where it will be the perfect weather! :) So, the food I really want to eat is your sweet pork, a Nandos chimichanga, and a fruit pizza. I have been craving those three things! So maybe my first home dinner? I think the biggest attribute change has been patience by far. You learn that one pretty much your whole mission. haha I think the most useful spiritual tool I have been able use is the scriptures and prayer. Those things are by far the best possible! You need the scriptures and you also need to pray to understand them, so they go hand in hand. When I grow up I want to be a dentist or orthodontist! Not sure yet. but once I have enough and I have a house with some land, I plan to build a shop in the back and work on cars and race when I can. haha! And how soon do I think I will be married... hmmm... I’m thinking early 2018, maybe summer of 2018. But who knows. Guess we will see. But I’m excited for whenever it happens! haha It will be nice! But that’s about it for this week! I hope you guys all have a great week as well! I love you! 

Love,

Elder Johnsen

November 28, 2016

This week was pretty good, missionary work wise. We saw a few people and found a few interesting new people. One is pagan, not sure how long we will have her as an investigator, but we will see. We are also teaching her husband and we will see what happens with them. The lesson was really awkward. Haha, but oh well. We got to see the Fullmers one last time before they moved out! We also helped them last night try and pack up the moving truck as best as we could. And we took some pictures so that was cool! We had a really good Thanksgiving as well! It was fun, except my companion tried to ruin all the fun and make sure we didn't have any. So, me and some others had fun while he did his own thing.

The biggest struggle on my mission has been crappy companions... if you don't have a good companion everything is hard and nothing goes well. I think the biggest difference, is probably that I know the gospel now and I actually know what this church is all about. I have learned so much and have actually read the Book of Mormon and know what it talks about! So my knowledge, I think, would be something people will notice the most. I’m not sure what has been the biggest growing experience... I would probably say my mission as a whole. There are so many things that just get thrown at ya and different challenge's always come up and you have to work through them... I think I will miss the southern hospitality out here! It’s crazy! Everyone is so nice! And they are always willing to listen to you about Jesus Christ! Well, at least down in North Carolina! I love North Carolina! It’s a great place! I just would never live there.. too humid.. haha But I would say that will be weird coming home and seeing the culture difference and being able to see everywhere and being back in the desert! haha Since I’m used to the green of the east coast! haha

Anyway! I love you all and miss you tons!

Love,

Elder Johnsen

November 21, 2016

This week was really good though, well the first half at least...  We saw some good people. The Fullmer’s came to church again, but we found out Anna is moving to the Portsmouth ward. So that's too bad, but at least those missionary's will have someone good to teach! I'm excited for her though. Otherwise same stuff different day. We did find a little family of 4 to teach, they are pretty cool! We were teaching their daughter, and then we finally got to teach the whole family this time around. They have potential, but we won’t know until we teach them again!  I did "my plan" today which was crazy. It’s the thing you do just before you go home to help keep you active in the church. I don't plan on going less active so I shouldn't need it, but it’s cool to go through none the less. I enjoyed it!  Otherwise nothing new here. These letters keep getting shorter and shorter since I'm getting closer to coming home! Haha  

Kim Thomas back in New Bern gave a talk this week! That was really cool! She sent me a copy of it. I’ll be sure to send it to you guys! She told me it went well so that's exciting! :) I love that family down there! They’re so amazing!  Anyway, I love you guys! 

Love,

Elder Johnsen

November 14, 2016

This week was cool! I guess? I mean I got sick which sucks but it was cool otherwise! haha We were able to see some people. The Fullmer family didn't come to church but Anna, the girl that is living with them that is a less active, did by herself which was awesome! And we now give her homework to better help her understand what we teach her. So that’s pretty cool, except I hate giving out homework and coming up with that stuff haha

We also got to meet with a lady the Bishop asked us to go see. She is trying to come back, which is awesome! But really needs to be re-taught everything. So we’re excited to be able to go and teach her every week! Another person we can add to the people we see on a weekly basis.

We got transfer calls and for my last transfer in the misison I get to be with Elder Lore! It’s actually pretty cool because my favorite companion in the mission trained him. So Elder Lore was trained by Elder Godfrey! After Elder Godfrey left me in Morehead he went to Washington for a transfer then trained Elder Lore and now I’m getting Elder Lore! haha He has only been out for 4 months, so he's pretty new! haha So that’s cool!

But this is it! I’m almost home! haha Otherwise our week was pretty much the same. Same stuff different day kinda thing! haha I love you all and miss you! 

Love,

Elder Johnsen

A couple of pictures he sent.  He doesn't send pictures very often.

November 1, 2016

This week was pretty good, lots of good things happened, I guess. We found 2 new people which was pretty cool there super prepared. So we will see how that goes in the coming weeks. Otherwise same thing just a different day haha  The Fullmers finally came to church! So that was super exciting! And Faith Bensinger even came to church, which was super exciting! So we’re excited to see what all happens with them in the coming weeks! Brother Bensinger has even softened up a little bit by now, offering rides for us if we ever need them! So that was super nice of him! We also did some service for him to try and help him out! So that was awesome! We’re hoping to see if we can get him to church next! But we’ll see what happens.

The comp has been good! We’re having fun doing our thing! He has gotten a lot better which is good. I was informed a few days ago that since being his companion he has made huge progress as a missionary. So that was nice to hear that, even though it’s hard and that sometimes I feel like I’m not sure why I’m his companion, it was nice to know that I'm helping him out a lot.

Yesterday we had Elder Bennett from the Seventy came to the mission. It went super well, except like all Seventy they kinda just rebuke us. So it was cool to meet him and get to know him, but he is the tangent king. He went on so many tangents it was nuts. But it was cool to meet another General Authority. I asked if we would trade me ties but he said no. So that was depressing, but he had a decent excuse. He said his wife got him that tie. I’ll bet he has a hundred ties his wife has given him. He doesn’t have one from Elder Johnsen though! Oh well. But it was pretty cool.

But I guess the only other cool thing that happened was that my crown on my tooth came off. So that sucked. It was weird not having it on, but a dentist in the ward said the only thing he could do was slap some cement on the old crown and use it as a temporary one and hope that it will last until I get home. He said he can’t guarantee it will make it two months but it beats trying to make a new one and paying big money for it haha. Anyway, that was our week! I love you guys so much! 

Love,

Elder Johnsen

November 7, 2016

Hey! So yeah, you best be waiting to do Christmas until I get home! haha It’s only a week everyone can wait! haha. I’m glad for what the mission has done for me and for everyone that's close to me. I never thought it would bless others so much but it has. Transfers are next week, but we get calls on Saturday. 

This week was really good I guess? haha It’s been pretty much the same old same old. We were able to have Faith Bensginer come to church and the Fullmers came as well! It’s great being able to see them at church! They really need it! We’re now trying to see how we can get them to both keep coming every Sunday. Sister Fullmers kids loved church, because they did a whole bunch of coloring so they loved it, of course haha They’re so awesome! haha And they’re super cute! And they love having us over! They call us the engineers, it’s super funny! They will be like ‘Mom, the engineers are here!’ haha It’s funny! We were able to do a little bit of service as well, for the Bensinger family, which was fun. We did a lot of yard stuff. So that was cool! We also found a cool investigator last week but he dropped us hard core this past week haha But it’s all good! So we continue to try and find new people to teach each and every day! I can’t believe I only have a few weeks left. I think it is finally starting to hit me that the end is near! But I hope all is well! I love you all! You’re the best! 

Love,

Elder Johnsen